There are very few games I’ve played that I believe will stay with me for the rest of my life. For many gamers, their favorite titles are often associated with nostalgia, specific celebrities, voice actors, or particular historical events. However, when it comes to uvula LLC’s action-adventure puzzle game, to a T, I am certain it will resonate with me for reasons that no other video game has before.
to a T is not only an adorable tale about a teenager and their life’s circumstances, but it’s also about understanding, acceptance, friendship, and proving how accessibility and equality don’t have to be conversations exclusive to politics and ignorance.
A Story of Adaptation, Identity, and Care
to a T follows the story of a teenager whose body is in a permanent T shape, also known as a T-pose. Because of their outstretched arms, basic tasks like changing their clothes, feeding themselves, and even using the restroom are incredibly difficult. With the help of their dog and mom, appliances around the house are adapted to better suit their needs, and their dog is used as a sort of seeing-eye dog, assisting with small tasks. By a chance encounter, they come to realize that they hold a special secret power that can be used to help others, propelling the narrative forward.
Despite the humor in the idea of someone being shaped like a T, uvula LLC makes it clear that this represents the teenager’s disability. The teenager’s bathroom sink features a push button that allows water to flow upwards, making it easier for them to wash their face. They use a unicycle instead of a bicycle because they have difficulty holding onto the handlebars. For lunch, they eat sub sandwiches, as they can easily slide the pieces down the parchment paper if it’s held on their arm.
There’s even a moment when the teenager’s mom explains that morning tasks like eating breakfast, washing their face, and brushing their teeth can be skipped so players can start their day more quickly. However, while this aspect of the game allows players to skip these encounters, it made me realize that real individuals in similar situations have to confront these challenges every single day. Personally, I think the best part of this is that the opening song to every chapter is quite literally called ‘You Are the Perfect Shape.’ Every aspect of the story moves the narrative forward without ever losing sight of what’s the most important.
Gameplay Rooted in Wholesome Nostalgia
The gameplay within to a T is very reminiscent of Japanese nostalgic adventures like Boku no Natsuyasumi. Basically, it relies on invoking memories of a simpler time and even fostering a sort of nostalgia for a childhood you never actually experienced. For most of the game, you’re walking from location to location across town, making sure to cross the road only when you’re allowed, brushing your teeth and washing your face before you leave your house, and even coordinating what you want to wear for the day. After that, you’re free to go out in the world and explore the town.
Beside that, the only other gameplay comes from the various minigames you can enjoy. Another major character, Giraffe, owns different food stalls that also double as games like collecting all the popcorn that falls at the popcorn stall, eating sub sandwiches and drinking soda as fast as you can at the sandwich stall, and even catching falling ice cream at the ice cream stall. In fact, I’d argue that most of the gameplay is in these minigames, as the story is primarily a narrative more than something you’re actually playing through.
Gentle Graphics and Heartfelt Memories
I personally think the simplistic graphics and primary school piano in the background are the greatest features in to a T. The game is cel-shaded and relies on very basic shapes to create really cute characters and NPCs. I felt that the simplicity helped lend to a heartwarming story and helped the writers focus more on what characters were actually saying. While there are many games I would commend the writing as being among the greatest, I’d argue that To a T does the same with much fewer and much smaller words.
I can’t explain the music any better than what I would think plays in the background during a kindergarteners first day of school. There is an uplifting whimsy about it that feels hopeful and helps the characters deliver dialogue in much more meaningful ways. I am shocked that the soundtrack hasn’t been posted somewhere publicly for me to listen to all the time.
Unlike Anything I Have Ever Played
t a T is all about the importance of being yourself, while also being about the importance of being simple. There are so many other games that have released around the same time as to a T, but I don’t think any of them have the same heart. None of them are about a teenager having difficulty finding their place in the world because of their body, while their friends and family help make life worthwhile. At the end of the day, it’s not the biggest games you remember when you’re older, it’s the ones you resonated most with. And I think a lot of players will resonate with to a T.
